Individual Disaster Preparedness: Explaining disaster-related Information Seeking and Preparedness Behavior in Switzerland

This study builds upon a previous CSS report that examined the hazard information needs of the Swiss population through the use of panel survey data. More specifically, it does so by using this data to look at factors that may influence information seeking and preparedness behavior related to disaster risks, including demographic characteristics, general hazard perceptions, and individual risk perceptions. Based on the analysis, the authors draw three conclusions: 1) people appear to be seeking more information about risks and demonstrate higher levels of risk perception, but this does not necessarily correlate with increased knowledge about potential preparations or actual preparation; 2) considering how influential factors interact when developing risk information and communication processes will likely improve the ability of the public to translate risk information into action; and 3) proper preparedness requires planning.Die individuelle Katastrophenvorsorge wird von einer Vielzahl psychologischer, sozioökonomischer und kultureller Faktoren geprägt, die sich auf komplexer Weise gegenseitig beeinflussen. In diesem CSS Risk and Resilience Report untersuchen Marco Käser, Linda Maduz, Tim Prior & Florian Roth was Deutsch- und Westschweizer dazu bewegt, sich über Risiken zu informieren und auf Gefahren vorzubereiten. Ihre Analyse ergibt, dass die Berücksichtigung einiger Schlüsselkomponenten die Fähigkeit der Bevölkerung, Risikowissen in konkretes Handeln umzuwandeln, verbessern würde